Sealing stopper

ABSTRACT

A sealing stopper comprising a stopper having a bottom portion, and a substantially transverse recess formed from the side of the bottom portion, a limiting stop secured to the stopper and disposed in the recess, and a bearing ball movably disposed in the recess. The recess has a depth adjacent the stop at least equal to the diameter of the bearing ball and the recess includes ends remote from the stop having a depth less than the diameter of the bearing ball, whereby the stop limits the path of the ball in the recess so that the bearing ball permits the stopper to turn freely in a closing direction, the ball remaining resting against the stop, and subsequently when turning the stopper in the opposite direction of opening, the ball is moved towards the remote end and becomes wedged between the stopper and the thread of a cap of a container in which the stopper is adapted to be inserted, destroying the cap and making the container useless.

United States Patent Lopez May 30, 1972 [54] SEALING STOPPER Attorney-Emest G. Montague [72] Inventor: Maria del Carmen Murga Lopez, Val- [57] ABSTRACT maseda (Vizcaya), Spain A sealing stopper comprising a Stopper having a. bottom por- [22] Fll l 1970 tion, and a substantially transverse recess formed from the Appl. No.: 79,528

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 18, 1970 Spain ..l5600l References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1960 McKay et al. ..220/39 R x Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerThomas C. Culp, J r

side of the bottom portion, a limiting stop secured to the stopper and disposed in the recess, and a bearing ball movably disposed in the recess. The recess has a depth adjacent the stop at least equal to the diameter of the bearing ball and the recess includes ends remote from the stop having a depth less than the diameter of the bearing ball, whereby the stop limits the path of the ball in the recess so that the bearing ball permits the stopper to turn freely in a closing direction, the ball remaining resting against the stop, and subsequently when turning the stopper in the opposite direction of opening, the ball is moved towards the remote end and becomes wedged between the stopper and the thread of a cap of a container in which the stopper is adapted to be inserted, destroying the cap and making the container useless.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SEALING STOPPER The present invention relates to the manufacture of receptacles in general, and more concretely to a novel sealing closure for the stoppers thereof, which makes it impossible to use the receptacle a second time after its original contents have been removed.

The receptacle thus provided with the irreversible closure proposed invention has very extensive possibilities of use. By way of preferred example, there may be mentioned the possibility of containing mercury in metallic containers, in the case of which product, the container provided with the irreversible closure proposed has the purpose of preventing the bottle once emptied from being filled with mercury coming from other sources or which is less pure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a stopper with a recess into which there is introduced a small steel ball of the type used for ball bearings, and a rubber block which compels the ball to occupy a given position at the moment of the closing of the receptacle. 4

The small ball as a result of its position, permits the stopper to be turned in a closing direction but not in the opposite or opening direction, since in the latter case it becomes wedged between the stopper and the thread of the cap, so that if the stopper is forced to turn under these conditions, the force of the small ball upon becoming wedged breaks the thread of the cap of the container and the stopper itself is completely deformed, thereby making the bottle useless for subsequent use.

With the above and other objects in view which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a stopper designed in accordance with the present invention on a bottle which may be selected at will;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the stopper in a position turned 90 with respect to that of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the lines 1-1 of FIG. 1 showing the location of the small steel ball and of the rubber stop.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a stopper designed in accordance with the present invention is positioned with respect to cap 2 and 3 of a receptacle. A small steel ball 4 and a limiting stop 5 are located in a recess 6.

The stopper 1 has threaded frusto-conical bottom portion formed with a preferably transverse recess 6 in which there is housed the small ball bearing 4. In order to prevent the ball 4 from leaving the recess 6 when stopper 1 is loose, that is before initiating the closing, the recess 6 as well as preferably the entire periphery of the bottom portion of the stopper is covered with a very thin plastic, adhesive film, which furthermore assists on the thread, in obtaining a better hermetic closure.

Upon efiecting the closing movement, the ball moves by rolling relative the recess 6 in the direction opposite the direction of the closing turning movement until reaching the rubber or limiting stop (FIG. 3). In this position, the depth of the recess is equal to the diameter of the ball 4 and therefore the stopper 1 encounters no difficulty in turning, effecting a normal hermetic closure as a result of the threaded length of the stopper located above the recess which penetrates into the neck of the container.

When opening the sealing stopper, one turns it in the opposite direction; the ball 4 moves away from the stop 5 into the narrower portion of the groove 6, which is narrower than the diameter of the ball 6, falling in the recess 6 towards the opposite side, becoming wedged between the thread of the stopper 1 and the inner wall of the recess 6, and preventing the turning of the stopper. Thereupon, in order to effect the opening of the container, it is necessary to exert a force which overcomes the opposition afiorded by the wedged ball. In this way, during its turning movement the ball presses against the turns 7 of the thread of the stopper and therefore makes same useless.

The recess 6 illustrated is in the form of a converging meniscus, although not limited thereto. In the sealing position, the ball 4 is substantially in the center of the recess 6 abutting the stop 5. The center of the recess is equal in depth to the diameter of the ball.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A sealing stopper comprising a stopper having a bottom portion, and a substantially transverse recess formed from the side of said bottom portion,

a limiting stop secured to said stopper and disposed in said recess,

a bearing ball movably disposed in said recess,

said recess having a depth adjacent said stop at least equal to the diameter of said bearing ball and said recess including ends remote from said stop having a depth less than the diameter of said bearing ball, whereby said stop limits the path of said ball in the said recess so that said bearing ball permits said stopper to turn freely in a closing direction, said ball remaining resting against said stop, and subsequently when turning said stopper in the opposite direction of opening said ball is moved towards said remote end and becomes wedged between said stopper and the thread of a cap of a container, in which said stopper is adapted to be inserted, destroying the cap and making the container useless.

2. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said stopper is threaded, and

a thin plastic adhesive film disposed on the entire periphery of said bottom portion of said stopper, thereby covering said recess, retaining said bearing ball therein prior to use of said stopper and assuring better hermetic tightness once said stopper is threaded to an opening in a container.

3. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop is made of rubber.

4. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess is transversely oriented and in the shape of a converging meniscus, the center of which is substantially equal to the diameter of said bearing ball, said stop being positioned adjacent said center. 

1. A sealing stopper comprising a stopper having a bottom portion, and a substantially transverse recess formed from the side of said bottom portion, a limiting stop secured to said stopper and disposed in said recess, a bearing ball movably disposed in said recess, said recess having a depth adjacent said stop at least equal to the diameter of said bearing ball and said recess including ends remote from said stop having a depth less than the diameter of said bearing ball, whereby said stop limits the path of said ball in the said recess so that said bearing ball permits said stopper to turn freely in a closing direction, said ball remaining resting against said stop, and subsequently when turning said stopper in the opposite direction of opening said ball is moved towards said remote end and becomes wedged between said stopper and the thread of a cap of a container, in which said stopper is adapted to be inserted, destroying the cap and making the container useless.
 2. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom portion of said stopper is threaded, and a thin plastic adhesive film disposed on the entire periphery of said bottom portion of said stopper, thereby covering said recess, retaining said bearing ball therein prior to use of said stopper and assuring better hermetic tightness once said stopper is threaded to an opening in a container.
 3. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop is made of rubber.
 4. The sealing stopper, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recess is transversely oriented and in the shape of a converging meniscus, the center of which is substantially equal to the diameter of said bearing ball, said stop being positioned adjacent said center. 